Review
MiniArt has gone heavily down the route of supplying small arms sets for Allied troops at long last. Thus providing the modeller with sets of figure equipment that can be easily reached for to alter the set up of a figure set. This set covers the equipment for US Infantry.
Review
This offering from MiniArt arrives in one of its end opening cartons, something that many know that I am not a huge fan of, and that I wish all companies would stop using. The container itself shows a nice selection of the equipment on the front, and covers the painting and minor assembly on the rear. Inside, is a single plastic bag containing 6 sprues, one of which are duplicated. All of the offerings provided look to be well moulded, with slide moulding utilised in some cases.
Equipment wise, MiniArt has gone down the route of providing helmets in the form of the M1helmet for the Infantry, and these are provided with a scrim net, a cloth cover, or bare and also provides detail inside the helmet. Drinking canteens are provided both in and out of their cloth cover, entrenchment tools are provided both in and out of their cloth covers. A particularly nice inclusion in this offering is a hand held camera, with my gripe being that only one is provided in the set, as I feel this item is a particularly useful, and fairly unique inclusion. Canvas wise, ammunition pouches for the various supplied weapons systems are provided, which is something I like to see in a weapons set. Map cases are included, and there are a few other odds and ends, which are not instantly identifiable.
Small Arms
Starting with the handheld weapons, we are provided with bayonets, both in and out of their scabbards, and I am pleased to see empty scabbards included. There are a good number of pineapples, with which to replenish your grenade supplies. There are three types of hand gun included, in the form of the M19/11 Colt, which is the weapon that I most often associate with American Infantry weapons. Colt M19/03pistols, which I feel is an unusual choice as its use would appear to have been limited, but none the less provides an interesting choice. There is a revolver included, which I believe is a Colt of some description, but I have been unable to satisfy myself as to which one it is. These weapons have been provided both out of and in holsters, and so provide a nice element and so could be used for anything from holding down a map, or a war trophy.
The M3 sub-machinegun, is included in this set and was from memory, a popular weapon with tank crews due to its compact size, however, it needs to be remembered that this weapon was a late introduction going into general service (If I remember rightly) in late 1943. Two forms of the M3 sun-machine gun are included with this set, one with a flash suppressor and the other with a silencer, both of these inclusions seem to be an unusual choice for a US Infantry set, and I would have instead preferred to have found Thompsons included. Moving on to the rifles provided, starts off with the good old M1 Garand detail on the weapon is good, but I would have liked to have seen MiniArt take the step of providing photo etch slings for these. The M1 carbine is included in two forms one with a solid wooden stock and the other with a folding metal stock. These weapons were popular due to its smaller size, but from what I have read, did not have the greatest of stopping power. These particular rifle appears to have been most popular with the US Marine Corps, but they were used by the US Infantry as well. The Browning automatic rifle, better known simply as a BAR has been included in the set, and unusual element in this offering is that a top mounted carrying handle is included, similar to that used on the British Bren Gun, and something that I cannot recall having seen before. Also included for this weapon are stripper clips which are a very nice touch. One criticism, of this inclusion is that the gates between the sprue and the moulded parts hasmarred the finish of the part, and will require careful clean up. A bi-pod is mounted, and again I would have liked to have seen a sling provided for the weapon.
Conclusion
This release from MiniArt, provides the modeller with a nice selection of weaponry for a number of situations, a particular item that I like, is the hand held camera and is an item that I would have liked to have seen more provided. Complaints wise, I feel that the lack of the Thompson machine gun and the inclusion of the M3sub-machine gun is a mistake, compacted by the variant of the M3 provided. The end opening boxes are something that I would like to see consigned to history, and lastly I would have liked to have seen MiniArt progress to the inclusion of weapons slings in one form or another. Finishing on a high, I believe the modeller will be very pleased to see the interior of the helmets moulded, and which rounds off a product that I find very pleasing for the most part.